Rose swung it again, hitting him in the leg. She tossed the branch and raced down the dirt road. She could see other buildings farther down; she just needed to reach them. She heard Remy yelling and glanced back in his direction. The guard was hovering over him and didn’t seem focused on her.
She veered to the right, crashing through bushes and tree branches. Remy yelled at the guard, who then took off after her. He slowed down once he was near her hiding spot as if he could sense her. Rose did her best to calm her breathing. She wouldn’t allow herself to be found. The man kicked at the bushes next to the tree area where she hid.
The carriage’s rumbling as it approached caused the guard to look away. Remy was driving it. He pulled to a stop. “Do you see her?”
The guard shook his head but said, “She has to be in this area.”
“Miss Calvert, come out. I will give you back your research. I have it in the carriage,” Remy cajoled.
Rose didn’t care. She would start over with her research and what she had stored in her memory.
The guard stepped closer to her, but Remy said, “Enough. We don’t have time. This was likely all a damn waste. We need to pick up the other goods before the ship departs.”
Remy hobbled down from the driver’s area of the vehicle, and the guard helped him inside. The carriage took off down the road, and Rose breathed a sigh of relief. It was over. She peered down the long road, watching them until they disappeared over a hill.
Rose stumbled out of the trees, euphoric to be alone. She glanced around. Wherever she was located, it was very far from any buildings, but she didn’t care. Rose was alive! As long as she didn’t see any carriages heading towards her, she would walk the road until she reached civilization. She guffawed, somewhat surprised she’d survived the night.
Augustus’s face appeared in her mind. She had the uncontrollable need to be wrapped up in his arms. She wondered if he was looking for her. Did anyone know she was missing? He probably wasn’t even back in London yet. Still, she would give anything right now to feel his body pressed against hers, even if he did give her a lecture for being reckless.
One step at a time, she told herself and continued down the road.
*
Augustus, Hawley, andthe men from the British Secret Service raced down the dirt road. He was still fucking furious at them all, but all would be forgotten if Rose was located at the warehouse they were galloping towards. His jaw ached from his fight earlier with one of the men, but he took great satisfaction that the man was already starting to sport a shiner.
They were on the outskirts of London along the Thames. Augustus shivered that this was where Rose’s kidnappers hadtaken her. It was far too secluded, and the intense worry in his chest only increased. She would be fine, he assured himself. Augustus wouldn’t think any differently.
One of the British Secret Service men pointed at a warehouse far off in the distance and yelled, “That is where we are headed!”
He spurred his horse on faster, galloping past all of them. His need to see Rose was almost unbearable. Please be in the building, he silently pleaded. He was so focused on the structure that he almost missed the tiny figure walking along the road. The person came to a halt, hearing the thunderous hooves of their horses, and darted into the woods. It was a woman wearing a brown skirt. It had to be her. Augustus yelled, “Rose!”
The figure stepped back out, and waves of relief shot through him as he approached. It was her. She stopped walking and waited for him. When he was near enough, he swung himself down and ran to her, grabbing her by her arms.
“Christ, Rose. I thought you were dead.”
Happiness filled her eyes as she stared back at him. Rose cupped his face and laughed absurdly. “I’m not that easy to kill.”
They stared at one another—so many emotions and unsaid words swirled around them. He was thrilled that she was here in front of him. She looked a mess but unharmed. His relief quickly shifted to anger. “What were you thinking, meeting with Bradford alone?”
Giggles erupted from her. Rose bent over, holding her stomach. Finally, she composed herself and smiled. “I kept telling myself I would give anything to hear you lecture me.”
Augustus studied her intently. His beautiful temptress was truly a frightful mess. Her dress was dirty, and her hair spiraled down her back haphazardly, but it didn’t matter; she was alive. He pulled her to him, hugging her tightly, needing to feel the weight of her body against his.
He wanted to scoop her up in his arms and kiss her until she was breathless, but he stopped himself. Hawley and the other men reached them as he released Rose. Warmth flared in his heart as she stayed close to him. This woman would be the death of him.
An impish smile filled her face. “I will take any of your lectures. Nothing can dampen my spirits about escaping.”
He frowned at her. “You should never have agreed to meet Bradford alone when you heard from him.”
“I reached out to him.”
He closed his eyes and counted to ten. He would not be angry. Augustus was simply happy to see her unharmed. “You should have asked me to do that.”
“You weren’t in London,” Rose pointed out.
He scowled. One of the British Secret Service men said, “I hate to interrupt, but do you have any details on where they were headed?”
Rose nodded. “They mentioned some cargo and a ship.”
